As soon as the outside doors opened, umbrellas popped up, the only spots of color in the pre-dawn hours. The line started forming, twisting its way through the empty school hallways (classes are canceled for many on Election Day). By 7 a.m., more than 50 voters were waiting. Clay Bristow was among the first.

"I knew I had to get here early to beat the crowd," he said. "If this is any sign, the rain might not affect turnout."

Piles of umbrellas and lines of wet boots marked polling locations across metro Atlanta. Voters at E. Rivers Elementary in Buckhead report poll workers took pity and ushered the line inside and out of the rain. Not the case in Suwanee, where a long line of umbrellas stretched through a wet parking lot.

Voter Michael Brown called the crowd at the fire station in Virginia Highland "big and enthusiastic."

While somevoters reported problems at their polling places, Dunwoody resident Chris Thorpe said he made it through the crowd at Calvary Church in 20 minutes. County Elections Boards tell 11Alive News that 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. are among their busiest hours on Election Day. That trend continued, despite the rain.